I see the term in the Guardian, but it's in a quotation. I wonder if the word enjoys currency in the UK, esp. in its extended meaning (beyond tackle): confront forcefully with a grievance.
With Trump and Tillerson, Abbott's 'shirtfront' comment looks even sillier | Kadira Pethiyagoda
Our erstwhile approach of being “more Catholic than the Pope” as seen by former prime minister Tony Abbott’s unfulfilled pledge to “shirtfront” Vladimir Putin, and other inflammatory rhetoric that saw us excluded from talks on Syria (harming our anti-terror efforts), will no longer suffice now that the next US president has moved to rapprochement with Russia.
With Trump and Tillerson, Abbott's 'shirtfront' comment looks even sillier | Kadira Pethiyagoda
Our erstwhile approach of being “more Catholic than the Pope” as seen by former prime minister Tony Abbott’s unfulfilled pledge to “shirtfront” Vladimir Putin, and other inflammatory rhetoric that saw us excluded from talks on Syria (harming our anti-terror efforts), will no longer suffice now that the next US president has moved to rapprochement with Russia.